Justification:
This is a small species with a widespread distribution in the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific. It is targeted for the aquarium trade, but it is not thought to be a major threat. This species is listed as least Concern.

This species is found in Christmas Island, Australia and in the western Pacific from the Solomon Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Rowley Shoals and New South Wales (Australia). It was recently reported from Tonga. It is replaced by Halichoeres leucoxanthus in the Indian Ocean, but with overlapping distributions in Indonesia.